For comics shipping 09.07.11 or The Week We Were Ready For Some Football. Every week I’ll check Diamond’s shipping list to see what you absolutely, positively need to spend all your hard earned cash on at the Local Comic Shop.

DC COMICS

Action Comics #1 – $3.99

The first real wave of the new DC Universe arrives this week, and with it comes a brand-new Action Comics #1 from Grant Morrison and Rags Morales. Grant Morrison has shown a deft hand when writing Superman before, so I can’t wait to see his take on a younger Superman who is still learning the ropes of being a hero.

Animal Man #1 – $2.99

Everyone is always talking up writer Jeff Lemire, so I’m optimistic about this relaunch of Animal Man. Teamed with one of my favorite artists Travel Foreman, I do believe this book could be a darkhorse for “best book you didn’t know was going to be so good in the new DCU.”

Justice League International #1 – $2.99

The second of what, four new Justice Leagues in the DCU? Whatever. Aaron Lopresti is a strong artist, and Dan Jurgens has proven time and again that he can write just about any kind of comic book story he wants. I’m much more interested in this book than Justice League simply because of the actual teams, not the creators involved.

MARVEL COMICS

Casanova: Avaritia #1 – $4.99

The best book Matt Fraction and Gabriel Ba have ever worked on returns this week. For those of you who are wondering, this comic is pure, unfiltered Fraction at his best. You only get to see glimpses and flashes of him in the mainstream books. Check out this time-traveling spy family adventure pronto.

RED 5 COMICS

Atomic Robo: Ghost of Station X #1 – $3.50

I appreciate that there are all sorts of new number ones shipping this week featuring some much more recognizable characters, but any week where you can get a new issue of an Atomic Robo comic is flat out full of win. That it’s also the start of a new mini-series makes it even better. Seriously, I cannot think of a book that I’m more excited to read once I see that it’s shipping than this.

Trade Paperback/Hardcover of the Week

Joe the Barbarian – $29.99

Joe the Barbarian is a whimsical tale from Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy that showed quite a different side of Morrison than what most mainstream comic readers are used to. Those more familiar with his Vertigo work will appreciate this return to the fantastical, and anyone completely unfamiliar at all with Morrison’s work will quickly find a reason to seek out more after reading this adventure. Teamed with Sean Murphy, who is quite an interior artist, Morrison tells the tale of 11 year-old Joe, who has a bit of a delusional attack brought about by his diabetes. This book is a modern-day Neverending Story, only without the dated special effects. Plagued a bit by lateness when it shipped as single issues, I’m eagerly anticipating picking up this collection to have the whole shebang in one convenient spot.

That’s all for this week. See you next time when there are even more new DCU comics coming.